Shoe-upper.



PATENTED JULY 26, 1904.

F. O.v BEAUDRY.

SHOE UPPER.

APPLIOATION mum JULY 29, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

13% hwoooo UNITED STATES Patented July 26, 1904.

PATENT EEicE.

SHOE-UPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 766,015, dated July 26, 1904.

Application filed July 29, 1902. Serial No. 117,546. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, FRANK O. BEAUDRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greensboro, in the county of Gruilford and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Shoe-Upper, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improved construction of shoe-upper, the object being to provide an upper which shall consist practically of a single piece of leather; and the object of making the upper as hereinafter described is to render the operations of lasting and stitching cheaper and simpler; and another object is to economize in the use of leather from which the uppers are cut. Shoe-uppers have been formed from a single piece of leather; but such shoes have been roughly finished and lack the finish and shape of first-class shoes. In shaping my pattern, however, 1 have remedied these defects and provide a shoe which both in finish and shape will be exactly the same as the ordinary Balmoral or lace shoe now in common use.

The invention consists in the novel features of construction hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoe, the upper being formed from a blank cut in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a view of the shoe-upper. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the strap or tab which is attached to the rear of the top of the upper. Fig. 4 is a detail rear view of the shoe.

In forming the shoe-upper the vamp A, foxing B, and top C are cut from a single piece of leather, and the forward end of the vamp is rounded, as shown at A. On one side the vamp A terminates in an inwardly and slightly forwardly extending straight edge A The upper edge of the top is cut inwardly from each side on straight lines C, and the opposite edge of the blank, forming the lower edge of the foxing, is formed with the inwardlycurved edge B. The side edges of the top are curved, as shown at C the forward curve reaching forwardly and inwardly to a point within and in advance of the inner end of the straight edge A of the vamp A, to which it is connected by the curved edge A", said edge curving oppositely to the curve C At its rear end the foxing B terminates in a straight edge B and to adapt it for lapping, as hereinafter described, the edge B is connected to the curved edge B by the short oblique edge B which allows for the lap. The rear edge 0 of the top 0 is connected to the rear straight edge B of the foxing B by the curved edge C The shoe is vamped by starting at the heel of the upper, stitching until the edge B is reached. The edge A is then lapped over about one-third of an inch and stitched to the edge B the obliquely-arranged edge B allowing for this lap. From this point the stitching is then continued. The edge B is essential for the proper fitting of the upper to the last, as in drafting it allows for the putting in of a spring to fit any last or form. The curved edge A connecting the straight edge A to the curved side edge of the top 0, is important, as it gives the shoe its appearance and shape as a regular Balmoral and adds greatly to the dressy appearance of the shoe when completed. In cutting from a number of blanks placed on a single piece of leather there is a minimum of waste, as the curved edge B of one blank will meet the outer extremities of the straight inwardlyinclined edges C of the top of an adjacent blank, and the small strip of leather between the two blanks at this point can be utilized for making the strap or tab E. On the line of the fold an oval opening D is formed, and at the lower end of the opening D is a slit D, arranged at a right angle to the opening D and extending to each side of the end of the opening. The tab E is passed through the slit D and secured to the upper edge of the top, covering the opening D, the object of the opening being to allow for the inward curve of the top of the upper in the completed shoe.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A shoe-upper formed of one piece comprising a vamp rounded at the forward end and having one side extending rearwardly on a compound curve, the other side being cut inwardly at the point of greatest width of the vamp, one edge of said cut portion comprising a straight edge and a forwardly-curved edge at the inner end of the straight edge and the opposite edge curving rearwardly from the inner end of the forwardly-curved edge to the outer edge of the vamp, a top piece having a rearwardly-projecting portion curved inwardly on one side and outwardly on the opposite side, the foXing having an edge adapted to match the straight edge of the cut-in portion of the vamp, and an oblique edge joining the edge of the foXing and the compoundcurved edge of the vamp.

2. A shoe-upper comprising the vamp A, foXing B, and top C, said vamp and foXing having straight edges or ends A and B respectively, the vamp and top having the reverselycurved edges A and (1 respectively, the oblique edge B upon the foxing and between the edges B and B, the top portion having an essentially oval-shaped opening D, intersected by a horizontal slit D, and the tab or strap E, passed through the said. slit and secured to the top of the shoe and adapted to cover the opening D, as specified.

FRANK 0. BE AUDRY.

Witnesses:

E. P. VVHARTON, T. P. HUNT. 

